Cultivating a Welcoming & Inclusive Community at High Point Friends School
By Pamela Horn, Assistant Head of School at High Point Friends School
High Point Friends School cultivates a community that is welcoming and inclusive of people from all backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Equality and the belief of “there is that of God in everyone” are fundamental principles that inspire us to seek and welcome broadly different perspectives. These are viewed as an advantage of a child’s education and of our school community. Equality is a core value in the Quaker tradition and Friends schools going back to 1754, when girls became part of Friends schools. Then again in 1770, when Friends education opened to children of all racial backgrounds.
Our nurturing and inclusive learning environment encourages students to express their ideas, thoughts, and beliefs freely. Our commitment is ensuring our students develop empathy and cultural competence.
We believe in learning through inquiry, reflection, and exploring a wide variety of perspectives and ideas. We’re insistent on listening respectfully and resolving conflicts peacefully and compassionately. We use queries to inspire dialogue towards building a caring community. Plus, teachers play an important role in the learning process that creates a culture of dignity, respect and curiosity. These queries follow the core principles of Friends Schools known as SPICES (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship).
How do we cultivate a welcoming and inclusive community within the classroom and school community?
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Our students worked collaboratively with our teaching staff to develop an honor code that promotes an environment of mutual trust and respect. Along with the understanding that every student is a responsible individual with an inherent desire to be an honorable person. This responsibility includes a student’s duty to oneself and others to sustain a system of moral values. They do this even in the face of adversity, surely as a sign of true leadership.
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Teachers create culturally responsive classrooms through group interaction and the validation of multiple perspectives. Students work in groups and listen to one another’s perspective as it relates to the topic or problem to be solved.
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Our lower school and middle school students participate in a weekly and monthly Quaker Studies class. This class helps students to understand the broader school community (fellow students, teachers, staff and families). They learn how to nurture their school community. Along with being mindful of views and experiences of others to become civically engaged in the broader community.
Whether you come from a different region, religion, or culture, you are always welcome at High Point Friends School. We embrace and invite a reflective community that values the inherent worth and potential of every individual and focuses on the whole person.
In our next blog, we will explore the missional elements that expect us to be a part of the community. Rather than being apart from the community – Developing Servant Leaders!
*Sponsored by High Point Friends School
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